#16 Key to the Unknown

Well, this was the exact opposite of fun.

Amara frowned, stepping fully into the room. She let the door shut, and took in as many details as she could. And essentially it was a room of stress; she felt as if she was running late to something or missed a deadline but couldn't remember what or where. It also amplified her countdown to OWLs. Amara actually considered just turning around and leaving, but it would be a waste of a key... which seemed to have disappeared after use.

Sighing, she got out her wand and approached a crate to inspect it. Inside was even less reassuring. The Quaffle size was familiar in her hands, as she picked one up -- not the smartest move before finding out what this was all about, but it was instinctual as a Quidditch player. She eyed the hole in the wall, reconsidering leaving.

'In any given moment, your flaws will be exposed and your reflexes tested,' Amara read aloud from the plaque. 'Brace yourself -- be alert -- be agile. This is a battle you cannot afford to lose. Great. I hate it already.'

She'd rather have used her wand. That was familiar and tied to her instincts / reflexes. Amara reluctantly tucked it away, then approached the orbs again. She picked up a fire orb, peering at the contained flames for a moment, then glanced over at the door.

'Okay. May as well.' Amara shrugged, shifting the orb to get used to it. Then she focused on the hole in the wall, where something was going to shoot out of. She hoped all the things in the room didn't imply this was on a timer. She needed to focus and consider her aim. 

Her Chaser skills were a bit rusty, though she had been practicing lately. Yet Amara gripped the orb then gave it a firm toss, bracing herself for whatever outcome awaited her.

Amara couldn't help instinctively flinching when the two orbs collided, even though all common sense indicated she was winning that round and was probably safe. She watched it all happen, then her rob continue to the wall. It was quite the display, but she didn't feel victorious.

She was just getting started, but that wasn't why. It was a sense of dread. What were the odds that she'd win every round? How many did she need to win overall to be done with this? She didn't know, or if the plaque had told her then she couldn't remember. Amara eyed the closed door again, then sighed.

Round two. She picked up a water orb this time, briefly mesmerised by the view of it. Eyeing the wall, she threw the orb and readied herself for whatever outcome came next. Amara was confident, but she certainly regretting started this thing because now -- no matter how bad it might get, she simply had to see it through to the end.

Amara grit her teeth and clenched her firsts, determined not to flinch this time. She watched, unblinking, as the orbs collided in mid-air once again. And the water made short work of the fire, then continued ontowards to the wall. A part of her wondered why there was even a wall -- if orb defeated orb, did it matter what happened afterwards?

Like so, if she lost was there really a point in sending that chaos her way?

'How much longer is this?' Amara muttered, assuming there were a lot more rounds to go. It was almost time for dinner -- how long had she been in here? 'Ice seems the logical next orb, but... is that expected then? Or what if they send ice at me? It's bloody cold as it is.'

Not one to make a habit of talking to herself, Amara used it as a way of staying focused. No one was around to hear her, anyway. Sighing, she reached for another water orb and threw it.